COLUMBIA, Mo. (KMIZ)

A Moberly JBS meat production line is still closed following a USDA notice of suspension in April.

On April 3, the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service issued a notice of suspension to the JBS Prepared Foods facility in Moberly, immediately suspending inspection services for its Fully Cooked-Not Shelf Stable processes due to producing adulterated product and sanitary failures.

Following a food safety assessment at the JBS plant from March 20-31, the EIAOs conducted an investigation of JBS' written programs and records that included evidence of Listeria monocytogenes, along with observations of pre-operational and operational activities.

The investigation also found JBS failed to keep areas where meat is handled clean enough to prevent Listeria from spreading. Along with this, JBS did not properly carry out their required daily and periodic cleaning procedures designed to control bacteria, documents obtained by ABC 17 News through a records request say.

Additionally, when Listeria was found, JBS failed to figure out where it came from or update their safety plans to make sure it would not happen again, documents show.

According to the USDA Report, FSIS placed a suspension on all Fully Cooked-Not Shelf Stable production, which includes Bits Lines 1, 2 and 3, as well as Slice Lines 4, 5 and 6.

The letter noted the plant cannot resume normal operations until the USDA reviews that plan, finds it adequate, and agrees to lift or ease the suspension.

JBS followed up with a letter on April 12, stating that between April 7-10, the group worked to identify and correct the lines.

Some of those corrected items were: Inspectors must confirm that the new Bits line exhaust has been capped or removed and making sure a physical barrier keeps the Bits and Slice areas separated.

Additionally, it also mandated workers strictly follow daily hygiene rules—such as washing hands, cleaning boots and wearing designated frocks— and that these safety checks are properly recorded.

Following the first set of changes, JBS was able to reopen some of the lines, while others were ordered to remain closed for further repair. Due to redactions on the document, ABC 17 News cannot confirm which lines reopened and which lines stayed closed.

On April 20, another letter was sent from JBS stating that between April 14-18, the company made additional repairs on the lines that were still closed.

Some of the fixes made in the verification plan required that inspectors must observe employee monitoring and review records to ensure proper sanitation procedures, line run-time limits, and corrective actions for elevated test results are strictly maintained.

To make sampling more clear and accurate, JBS updated its environmental monitoring program and will collect food-contact swabs during every cleaning cycle for 30 days.

This document specifically lists that, after review, bit lines 1 and 2 were allowed to start production again, while bit line 3 remained suspended.

According to the documents, Bit Line 3 is still closed. JBS told ABC 17 News the facility is set to reopen soon.

"The facility remains temporarily closed as we complete necessary maintenance and construction-related updates identified through our comprehensive assessment and discussions with the USDA Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS). We are in the final stages of these repairs and updates, and anticipate resuming operations as early as next week," the statement says.

JBS added that when the outbreak was detected, since operations were paused, no product has left the facility, and there is no recall associated with it.

"We remain in continuous communication with FSIS and are working collaboratively to ensure all required adjustments are addressed," the statement says.